Ride control truck



Feb. 3, 1948. c, w CLASEN 2,435,384

RIDE CONTROL TRUCK Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN KEN TOR.

Feb. 3, 1948. c. .1. w. CLASEN 2,435,384

R IDE CONTROL TRUCK Filed Nov. 17, 1944 2 SheetsS heet 2 T V", 64 3o 26 26 .3? 54 IN V EN TOR.

WJZl/Qgzaer f awen/ Patented Feb. 3, 1948 RIDE CONTROL TRUCK Claus J. Werner Clasen. Chicago, 111., assignor to American Steel Foundries, Chicago, 111., a corporation oi New Jersey Application November 17, 1944, Serial No. 563,822

17 Claim;

My invention relates to railway car trucks and more particularly to a railway car truck having ride control or snubbing means associated with each bolster end and guide columns on the side frames.

An object of my invention is to provide a novel interlocking arrangement between the side frames and the bolster in a railway car truck of the type described wherein the bolster is guidi y gaged with the side frame columns by direct contact therewith instead of indirectly by the friction shoes of the snubbing means associated with the bolster and side frame columns, thereby reducing wear and preventing shocks upon the friction shoes during abrupt lateral movement of the bolster relative to the side frames in starting or stopping of the train or under service conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel form of side frame for a railway car truck wherein the side frame columns and brake hanger brackets provide bolster guide surfaces therebetween having a maximum bearing area on the inboard side of said frame and interlocking means are provided on the outboard side of the columns for an associated bolster.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel bolster having pockets adjacent opposite ends thereof housing associated friction means and having a guide surface providing a maximum bearing area at the inboard side of each pocket for engagement with the columns of an associated side frame, the ends of the bolster being formed to have interlocking engagement with the outboard sides of columns of an associated side frame.

My novel interlocking arrangement is shown and described in a car truck comprising side frames of truss type having inboard and outboard confining flanges on the tension member for the bolster-supporting springs. This arrangement for confinin the springs has proven highly satisfactory under service conditions and in order to permit the utilization of this beneficial feature, the outboard side of my novel side frame is formed to permit the insertion of a bolster therein for interlocking the bolster with the side frame without interference with the confining flanges.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a four wheel truck structure embodying my invention, only one-half of the structure being shown inasmuch as the structure is similar at opposite ends of the truck.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view through portion of the bolster shown in elevation, the section being taken substantially in the vertical plane bisecting the truck transversely as indicated by the line 2-4 of Figure 1. ii Figure 3 is a top plan view of the truck structure shown in Figures 1 and 2, partly in section, the section being taken substantially in the horizontal plane indicated by the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the truck side frame, viewing the same from the in-' board side thereof, and Figure 5 is a view of the same taken from the left in the transverse vertical plane indicated by the line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Describing my novel truck arrangement in greater detail, the truck structure comprises the side frame of truss type with the compression member 2, the tension member 4, and spaced columns 6, 6 merging with said tension and compression members to form the central bolster opening 8 and spaced window openings l0, l0, said tension and compression members also merging adjacent their corresponding ends with the integrally formed iournal box l2.

The compression member 2 above the, bolster opening may be of generally box section (Figures 2 and 5) having the integral brake hanger brackets l3, l3 on the inboard side thereof at opposite sides of said bolster opening. Beneath said 30 bolster opening. the tension member may also be of box section with the central longitudinal reinforcing web I4 and with the top wall widened and formed with upstanding inboard and outboard iianges l6 and i8 defining the spring seat 35 20. Positioned on the spring seat 28 of the tension member in said bolster opening may be a spring group generally designated 22 and comprising a plurality of coil springs. said springs being retained in normal relationship not only 4 by the confining flanges on the tension member but also by the lugs 24, 24 downwardly projecting from the associated bolster generally designated 26.

The bolster 26 is of boxlike form comprising the side walls 28, 28, the top wall 30 and the bottom wall 32. said side walls 28. 28 having the aligned openings 34, 34 permitting associated brake rods to extend therethrough and said top wall having the usual center bearing 36 and side bearing seats 31, 31. The side walls 28, 28 flare outwardly adjacent each end of the bolster positioned within the bolster opening and then parallel each other and adjacent the columns 6. 6 and brackets i3, i 3. The parallel side walls are the truck structure shown in Figure 1 with a formed with pockets 38, 38 therein housing friction means engageable with the side frame columns for snubbing the oscillations of the spring group 22 upon vertical movement of the bolster. Extending between the top and bottom walls of each pocket and merging therewith and the side walls of each pocket 38, 38 are inclined webs 46, 40 having surfaces in complementary engagement as at 42 with inclined surfaces on a shoe 44, said shoe having an opening therein receiving a spring 46 seated at its upper end against the top wall 30 of the bolster and extending between the webs 40, 40 and seated at its lower end on a, horizontal wall 48 of the shoe adjacent a spring of the spring group 22, said spring 46 acting to urge said shoe downwardly and along the inclined surfaces of the webs 40, 40 into frictional or stopping will have a tendency to cause the friction shoes on one side of the bolster to be urged violently against the associated friction panels 50 while the shoes on the other side of the bolster ends will be forced outwardly of the bolster by the associated springs 46. This actuation of the shoes tends to drive the same up and down the inclined surfaces of the webs 40, 40 and causes considerable shock upon the shoes whereby the same may stick in operation as well as producing considerable wear which may render the shoes inoperative due to their interference with the bolster-supporting spring positioned beneath the horizontal wall 48 of each shoe.

In order to obviate this undesirable actuation of the shoes, and referring now to Figures 3, 4, and 5, each hanger bracket 13 is formed with a flat vertical bolster guide surfabe"54 between the extremity thereof and the associated column for complementary engagement of the guide surface 56 of the associated side wall 28 of the bolster end on the inboard side of said pocket and each column is formed on the inboard side thereof with anintegral flange or web 58 extending outwardly therefrom and forming a continuation of the wall of said column supporting said friction panel, said web 58 merging at the upper end thereof with said bracket [3 and having a bolster guide surface 66 coplanar with the surfac 54 of the bracket l3 for complementary engagement with the associated guide surface 56 on the side wall 28 of the bolster. Each of said webs 58 are provided with gussets 62 merging with the associated column for reinforcing said web.

It will be apparent that the relatively large area afforded by the guide surfaces of the brake hanger brackets i3 and the webs 58 and the disposition of these surfaces adjacent the complementary surfaces of the bolster side walls will permit only a slight lateral movement of the bolster relative to the columns 6, 6 and, accordingly, the shoes can only be urged up and down the inclined surfaces a distance commensurate to the space between these surfaces with the result the aforesaid undesirable actuation of the shoes will be prevented.

The bolster is slidably interlocked with the side frames by providing the outboard side of each column with a vertical flange or gib 64 having the reinforcing gussets 66 at opposite ends thereof merging with the beading on the column adjacent the window opening, said gib 64 being received within a vertical slot or channel 61 in the adjacent bolster end, said channel being partially defined by the lug 68 on the bolster extremity in overlapping relationship with respect to a portion of the column gib 64, whereby longitudinal movement of said bolster is prevented and the bolster is slidably interlocked with the side frame. It may be noted that the overall width of the bolster end is such as to be receivable within the relatively wide portion of the side frame at the bottom of the bolster opening 8 above the inboard and outboard flanges l6 and I8 and that the bolster lug'68, defining the outboard end of the channel 61 in the bolster end, has a depth indicated by A (Figure 1) which is substantially less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and also less than the distance between the lower end of the gib 64 on the column 6 and the upper end of the outboard flange l8 as indicated at B," whereby the bolster end may be inserted in the bolster opening of the side frame and elevated for reception of the gibs 64 on the columns in the channels 61 at opposite sides of the bolster and whereupon the spring group may b positioned thereunder, said spring group thus providing a resilient support for said bolster end. It may further be noted that the over-all depth of the bolster end is substantially greater than the distance B between the outboard flange l8 and the lower end of the gib 64 to afford generous bearing areas, and upon insertion of the bolster end and elevation thereof, the gibs 64 will be slidably engaged with the bolster end above the lugs 68 and received in the channels 61 in the bolster end.

An advantageous feature of my novel bolster is that the relatively wide separation of the friction shoes in the side walls of each bolster end will permit the friction shoes to wear longer in service as they will not become inoperative due to interference with the bolster-supporting springs. Also, ample space is provided between each pocket and the central'wail ll] of the boister end to permit the ready insertion and removal of rivets in the side bearing plates (not' shown) in the openings in the seats 31, 31 on the bolster, thus facilitating the assembly and disassembly of the plates with the bolster.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation as various and other forms of the devic will, of course, be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member. a tension member, and spaced columns defining a bolster openme, said tension member being of box section with the top chord of said box section widened and formed with inboard and outboard flanges defining a spring seat, a spring group on said seat, a flange on the inboard side of each column presenting a vertical bolster guide surface, a. bolster end seated on said spring group and having side mentary guiding engagement therewith, a vertical channel in each of said walls outboard said columns, said channel being defined at its outboard end by 9. lug of substantially less depth than the over-all depth of the bolster end, a gib on each column received within said channel, the distance between the lower end of said gib and the upper end of the outboard flange being less than the over-all depth of the-bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster openin for slidably interlocking said bolster end with said columns.

2. In a railway car truck, a. side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, a bracket on the inboard side of each column at the juncture thereof with said' compression member, a, vertical flat bolster guide surface on said bracket, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column merging with the associated bracket, a bolster guide surface on each flange coplanar with the surface on the associated bracket, 9, bolster end seated on said spring group, said bolster end having side walls adjacent said surfaces and adapted to have complementary guiding engagement therewith and serving as stop means for relatively violent lateral oscillations of said bolster, friction means housed in said side walls and in engagement with said columns and centering said bolster with respect to said columns and disengaging said side walls from said surfaces and absorbing relatively minor lateral oscillations of said bolster, a vertical channel in each of said walls outboard said columns, and a gib formed on each column and received within the adjacent channel slidably interlocking said bolster end and side frame.

3. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, a bracket on the inboard side of each column at the juncture thereof with said compression member, a vertical bolster guide surface on said bracket, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column merging with the associated bracket, a bolster guide surface on each cent channel slidably interlocking said bolster end and side frame.

4. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster' opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, a bracket on the inboard side of each column at the juncture thereof with said compression member, a bolster guide surface on said bracket, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column merging with the associated bracket, a vertical bolster guide surface on each flange coplanar with the surface on the associated bracket, abolster end seated on said spring group and having surfaces adjacent said guide surfaces,

violent lateral oscillations of said bolster, friction means housed in said bolster end and in engagement with said columns and providing means for dampening relatively minor lateral oscillations of said bolster, and substantially vertical tongue and groove interlocking means on the outboard side of respective columns engaging said bolster end for slidably interlocking said columns therewith.

'5. In a, railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring group on said tension member in said opening, a bracket on the inboard side of each column, a, vertical bolster guide surface on said brackets. vertical flange on the inboard side of each column, a bolster guide surface on each flange substantially coplanar with the surface on the associated bracket, 9, bolster end seated on said spring group and having surfaces adjacent said guide surfaces, said bolster surfaces and said guide. surfaces being adapted for engagement with each other to stop relatively violent lateral oscillations of said bolster, friction means housed in said bolster end and in engagement with said columns and serving to dampen relatively minor lateral oscillations of said bolster, and interlocking means on said columns cooperating with said bolster to slidably interlock said bolster therewith.

6. In a railway car truck, a, side frame having spaced columns defining in part a bolster opening, a spring group 'in said opening, a bolster seated on said spring group, said bolster having parallel side walls inboard of said columns affording guide surfaces therefor, friction means carried in said bolster end at opposite sides thereof adjacent said columns and dampening relatively small lateral oscillations of said bolster, friction panels in said columns in engagement with said friction means, each of said columns having an integral member extending inboard thereof and affording opposed guide faces each coplanar with the surface of the adjacent friction panel and engageable with said guide surfaces to stop relatively large and more violent lateral oscillations of said bolster, and interlocking means associated with said columns outboard thereof for interlocking said bolster therewith.

'7. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster end spring-supported from said tension member in said opening, a flange extending outwardly from the'inboard side of each column, opposed bolster guide surfaces on said flanges adjacent the side walls of said bolster end for guiding engagement therewith, friction means housed in the sides of said bolster and in engagement with said columns, and interlocking means on said columns cooperating with said bolster end to slidably interlock said bolster end therewith, said means comprising a gib extending from the outboard side of each column, and a vertical channel in each side of said bolster end receiving the same, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the overall depth of the bolster end and the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all-depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster opening for slidably interlocking said bolster end with said columns. I

8. In a railway car truck, 9, side frame havin spaced columns defining in part a. bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a bolster end seated on said spring group, a flange extending outwardly from the inboard side of each column, opposed bolster guide surfaces on said flanges for engagement with the side walls of said bolster end when relatively large lateral oscillation of said bolster occurs, friction means housed in said side walls and in engagement with said columns and serving to deaden relatively minor lateral oscillations of said bolster, and interlocking means on said columns cooperating with said bolster end to slidably interlock said bolster end therewith, said means comprising a gib extending from the outboard side of each column and a vertical channel in each side wall receiving the same.

9. In a, railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns defining in part a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a bolster end seated on said spring group, opposed walls on said columns presenting friction surfaces, friction means in said bolster end in engagement with said friction surfaces and serving to dampen relatively small lateral oscillations of said bolster, a vertical member formed integral with said columns on the inboard side thereof and having a bolster guide surface substantially coplanar with said friction surfaces, and guide faces formed on said bolster end inboard of said columns for engagement with the guide surfaces of said walls when a, relatively large oscillation of said bolster.

occurs, said engagement of said faces with said guide surfaces occurring well before the capacitive limit of said friction means is reached, and interlocking means on said columns on the outboard side thereof slidably interlocking said bolster end and said columns.

10. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns defining in part a bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a bolster seated on said spring group, said bolster and columns having parallel opposed side walls, friction panels recessed in the side walls of said columns and having faces in parallel planes, friction means in the side walls of said bolster for engagement with said friction panels, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column having a bolster guide surface coplanar with the associated friction face and engageable with the opposed side wall of said bolster only when a relatively large lateral oscillation of said bolster occurs, and means slidably interlocking said bolster and columns on the outboard side of said frame.

11. In a railway car truck, a side frame having spaced columns defining in part a, bolster opening, a spring group in said opening, a bolster and seated on said spring group, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column, said flanges having opposed bolster guide surfaces and said bolster end having side walls with guide faces complementary to said surfaces for engagement therewith only when a relatively large lateral oscillation of said bolster occurs, friction means in said side walls in engagement with said columns and centering said bolster with respect to ing, a spring group in said opening, a bolster end seated on said spring group, a vertical flange extending outwardly from the inboard side of each column, opposed bolster guide surfaces on said flanges for engagement with the side walls of said bolster end when a, violent lateral movement of the bolster occurs, friction means housed in said side walls and in engagement with said columns and accommodating only relatively minor oscillations of said bolster, and interlocking means on said columns on the outboard side thereof cooperating with said bolster end to slidably interlock said bolster end therewith.

13. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, a, bracket on the inboard side of each column at the juncture thereof with said compression member, a vertical fiat bolster guide surface on said bracket, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column merging with the associated bracket, a bolster guide surface on each flange coplanar with the surface on the associated bracket, a bolster end seated on said spring group, said bolster end having side walls adjacent said surfacesand adapted to have complementary guiding engagement therewith, friction means housed in said side walls and in engagement with said columns, a vertical channel in each of said walls outboard said columns, and

a gib formed on each column and received within the adjacent channel slidably interlocking said bolster end and side frame, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the over-all depth of the bolster end, and the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster opening for slidably interlocking said bolster end with said columns.

14. In a railway car truck, a side frame comprising a compression member, a tension member and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a spring group seated on said tension member in said opening, a bracket on the inboard side of each column at the juncture thereof with said compression member, a vertical flat bolster guide surface on said bracket, a vertical flange on the inboard side of each column merging with the associated bracket, a bolster guide surface on each flange coplanar with the surface on the associated bracket, a bolster end seated on said spring group, said bolster end having side walls adjacent said surfaces and adapted to have complementary guiding engagement therewith, a vertical channel in each of said walls outboard said columns, and a gib formed on each column and received within the adjacent channel slidably interlocking said bolster end and side frame, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the over-all depth of the bolster end, and the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster opening for lidably interlocking said bolster end with said columns. j

15. In a railway car truck, a side frame com prising tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a boister end spring-supported from said tension member in said opening, a flange extending outwardly from the inboard side of each column, opposed bolster guide surfaces on said flanges adjacent the side walls of said bolster end for guiding engagement therewith, and interlocking means on said columns cooperating with said bolster end to slidably interlock said bolster end therewith, said means comprising a gib extending from the outboard side of each column, and a vertical channel in each side of said bolster end receiving the same, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the over-all depth of the bolster end and the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster opening for slidably interlocking said bolster end with said columns.

16. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a. bolster opening, a bolster end supported on said tension member in said opening, means projecting outwardly from the inboard sides of said columns, opposed bolster guide surfaces on said means for engagement with the sides of said bolster, a channel in each side of said bolster end outboard said columns, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the over-all depth of said'bolster end, a gib on each column received within said channel, the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster 10 opening for interlocking said bolster with said columns.

17. In a railway car truck, a side frame having tension and compression members and spaced columns defining a bolster opening, a bolster end supported on said tension member in said opening, and means on said columns and said bolster end for interlocking said bolster with said columns, said means comprising a, channel in each side of said bolster end outboard said columns, said channel being defined at its outboard end by a lug of substantially less depth than the overall depth of said bolster end, a gib on each column received within said channel, the distance between said gib and said tension member being less than the over-all depth of the bolster end and greater than the depth of said lug, whereby said bolster end may be inserted and elevated in said bolster opening for interlocking said bolster with said columns.

CLAUS J. WERNER CLASEN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Martin Feb. 13, 1934 

